US3708034A - Stethoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

A stethoscope is provided having ear tubes connected by a resilient band which permits swinging movement of the free ends of the ear tubes toward and away from each other in a plane for insertion for use and removal but resists displacement of the ear tubes from that plane, the ends of the resilient band being formed into spring collars and having struck out projections engaged in slots in the tubes to prevent longitudinal separation and turning of the tubes.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Ziegler et al. 1 Jan. 2, 1973 [54] STETHOSCOPE 3,295,631 1/1967 Machlup ..l8l/24 3,633,704 1/1972 Ziegler et al. ..l8l/24 [75] Inventors: Carrell G. Ziegler, Flourtown; Al-

Hoflmlll, Roslyn, both of Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Tomsky Attorney-Zachary T. Wobensmith [73] Assignee: Dittmar and Penn Corporation,

Philadelphia, Pa. [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: June 24 1971 A stethoscope is provided having ear tubes connected by a resilient band which permits swinging movement [21] Appl. No.: 156,449 of the free ends of the ear tubes toward and away from each other in a plane for insertion for use and removal but resists displacement of the ear tubes from [52] US. Cl ..l8l/24 that plane the ends of the resilient band being formed Clinto pring collars and having struck out projections [58] Field of Search ..l8l/24 engaged i l t i the tubes to prevent longitudinal separation and turning of the tubes. [56] References Cited 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAM ems 3.708.034

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INVENTORS CARRELL G. Z/EGLER ALEERT H. HOFFMAN ATTORNEY STETHOSCOPE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is an improvement over our prior application for letters patent for Stethoscope, filed Mar. 25, 1970, Ser. No. 22,440, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,633,704.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to stethoscopes and more particularly to a stethoscope having an improved resilient connection between the ear tubes.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various connections have heretofore been proposed between the ear tubes of stethoscopes.

Littman et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 3,168,160, shows a stethoscope in which a spring composed of one or more leaves is anchored at its ends to the ends of the rigid ear tubes by a coil spring or by an enclosing collar, the spring and its ends being enclosed in a Y-shaped sound tube to the stem of which a conventional stethoscope head is attached. The Littman et al. structure not only includes a multiplicity of components but the assembly is slow and there is likelihood of obstruct-ion of the Y- shaped tube by the spring particularly upon aging of the Y-shaped tube. Further, the replacement of the Y- shaped tube which may be rendered necessary by aging is difficult.

Machlup, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,295,631 shows a stethoscope in which like Littman et al. the spring connecting the rigid ear tubes is enclosed within a Y- shaped flexible tube and thus is subject to similar shortcomings to those of Littman et al. Machlup provides a groove in the ear tube, thus weakening the end or reducing the cross sectional area for sound transmission, or both and indentations spaced from the groove and projections on end collars on the spring for engagement in the endentations and groove. The spring end collars and spring are entirely enclosed within the Y- shaped tube. The simplicity of construction and assembly of the construction of the present invention is lacking in Machlup.

Marsh, in U.S. Pat. No. 654,906 shows a stethoscope in which the spring connecting the rigid ear tubes is connected to the ear tubes by screws or rivets.

Jones, in U.S. Pat. No. 735,670 shows a spring connecting the rigid ear tubes with end collars frictionally engaged on the ear tubes.

The rigorous use to which stethoscopes are subjected results in loosening of the sleeves which are merely frictionally engaged'and not otherwise restrained.

The stethoscope of the present invention has the connector secured to the ear tubes in a simple but effective manner which does not require soldering or the like, or the use of external springs or collars and which permits of easy replacement of flexible tubes if desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In'accordance with the invention, a stethoscope is provided having the relatively rigid ear tubes connected by a resilient connecting band which permits swinging movement of the free ends of the ear tubes toward and away from each other in a plane for inser tion for use and for removal but which resists displacement, as by turning, of the ear tubes from that plane, the ends of the band having end struck out projections engaged in slots in the ear tubes, and having partial side gripping wings, the end portions of the resilient band being held in engagement with theeartubes by external collars, preferably of tubular synthetic plastic material.

It is the principal object of the invention toprovide a stethoscope having a simple but effective resilient connection between the ear tubes which permits easy adjustment of the ends of the ear tubes toward andaway from each other in a plane for use and for-removal but prevents displacement of the ear tubes by turning of the same out of that plane.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a stethoscope having an improved connection between the ear tubes and which will have a long useful life.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The nature and characteristic features of the inven tion will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a stethoscope in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal view partly in elevation and partly in section on the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view, takenapproximately on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a partial exploded perspective view of the end connection.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a stethoscope is shown at 10 having relatively rigid ear tubes 11, preferably of metal such as stainless steel, brass or aluminum or of synthetic plastic material, with rubber or plastic ear tips 12 thereon. The ear tubes 11 have flexible tubes 13 of rubber or synthetic plastic extending therefrom to a chestpiece 14 of any desired S'P A binaural spring 15 is provided, preferably of spring steel, and of special configuration as hereinafter described.

The spring 15 has a central band portion 16, which is preferably wider at the center than at the ends, and is of substantially U-shape. v I

The spring 15 has end portions 17 with arcuate terminal wings 18 which extend around the tubes 11 and toward each other in resilient gripping and holding relation to the tubes 11. The end portions 17, between the wings 18, have struck out projections 19 which engage in slots 20 in the tubes 11. The engagement of the end portions 17 and the tubes 11 thus provided prevents relative turning movement of the tubes 1 l and the spring end portions 17 as well as longitudinal axial movement therebetween.

Swinging movement of the ear tube tips 12 toward and away from each other in a plane as required for insertion of the car tips 12 in the ears for use is permitted by the spring 15 while undesired distortion is prevented by the spring 15 and its connections to the tubes 1 1.

We claim:

1 1. In a stethoscope having relatively rigid ear tubes with terminal ends on which flexible tubes are engaged and a chestpiece connected to said flexible tubes, the improvement which comprises a binaural spring in separated relation from said flexspring end portions but permitting relative move- 1 ment of the free ends of the ear tubes in a plane. 2. A stethoscope as defined in claim 1 in which said binaural spring is of U-shape and of strip material and is wider at the midportion thereof.

Claims (2)

1. In a stethoscope having relatively rigid ear tubes with terminal ends on which flexible tubes are engaged and a chestpiece connected to said flexible tubes, the improvement which comprises a binaural spring in separated relation from said flexible tubes and having end portions with terminal wings extending around said ear tubes and toward each other retaining said end portions in resilient gripping and holding engagement with said ear tubes, interengaginG portions on each of said ear tubes and each of said spring end portions intermediate its terminal wings for preventing relative rotation and longitudinal axial movement of said tubes and said spring end portions but permitting relative movement of the free ends of the ear tubes in a plane.

2. A stethoscope as defined in claim 1 in which said binaural spring is of U-shape and of strip material and is wider at the midportion thereof.

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